WashingtonThe president announced on Monday that he had severed his connection with the now-disgraced billionaire and expelled him from his exclusive club in Florida after Epstein repeatedly deceived him by employing former employees.
The White House did not immediately respond, and Trump did not specify the jobs or locations of the individuals. Though White House communications director Steven Cheung recently stated on X, “The truth is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep,” Trump’s new remarks provided some clarification on why he claimed to have severed his contact with Epstein.
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Authorities claim that while awaiting trial on sex trafficking allegations in 2019, he committed suicide in a New York detention cell. Prior to Trump’s comeback to power, Trump and his closest supporters promoted conspiracy theories regarding Epstein’s death. These beliefs have now been confirmed after the Justice Department said that Epstein indeed committed suicide and that it would not make any more records related to the case public.
The files were promised to be made public by the president and his supporters, some of whom are currently in the administration.
Trump has been plagued by the case both domestically and overseas, and it even followed him on Monday when he made an address in Ohio, his home state. Outside a Canton firm that Vance visited, a small group of demonstrators gathered with posters that read, “JD Protects Pedophiles” and “GOP stands for Guardians Of Pedophiles.”
After the leaders met and were taking questions from U.S. and U.K. journalists, the Republican president spoke while sitting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf estate in Turnberry, Scotland. Trump responded, “That’s such old history, very easy to explain, but I don’t want to waste your time by explaining it,” when asked why the relationship had failed.
He went on to explain that he had cut off communication with Epstein because of his irresponsible behavior.
“Don’t ever do that again,” Trump urged after he hired help. People that worked for me were stolen by him. “Never do that again,” I said. I booted him out of the place, persona non grata, after he did it again.
That was it; I kicked him out. “If you want to know the truth, I’m glad I did,” Trump continued.
Recently, Trump instructed the Attorney General to pursue the public release of the case’s sealed grand jury transcripts. That request has been rejected by one federal judge, while another has not yet made a decision.
In addition to promoting Trump’s tax cut and border bill during his Monday visit to the plant, Vance discussed the Epstein issue and stated that the president wants complete openness.
The president has made no bones about it. When a reporter asked, “We’re not shielding anything,” Vance replied. The attorney general has been instructed by the president to make all reliable information available and, to be honest, to look for further reliable information about the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Vance added that Trump has been quite clear that some of that stuff needs time. He want complete openness.
Back in 2019, Trump claimed that Epstein was a regular in Palm Beach but that he hadn’t spoken to him in 15 years due to a long-standing falling out.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Trump’s denial on Monday that he had contributed to an assemblage of letters and drawings commemorating Epstein’s 50th birthday. According to the newspaper, a drawing of a woman’s body was included in the letter that was thought to be from Trump.
“I can tell you that I don’t draw women,” Trump stated.
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This article was written by Julie Carr Smyth of the Associated Press in Canton, Ohio.
